Pre-performance routines in sport: current understanding and future directions

The development of a pre-performance routine continues to be an intuitively appealing and widely accepted technique to enhance preparation for performance in sport. However, actual understanding falls somewhat short of that required to recommend with confidence the development of a pre-performance routine. At a fundamental level it is still not clear what function routines fulfil, what they should consist of or the most effective way to teach them. This review seeks to clarify current understanding and highlight areas requiring further attention. Greater understanding is required to understand the psychological components of routines as well as understanding the process through which a routine is developed/taught.